COVID-19 Relief for Nurse Balbino Torres
Donation protected
Balbino Torres, 85 years old, currently working as an active nurse, has just lost the love of his life, Iris Torres of 72 years of age. They’ve been married over 35 years. Prior to meeting Iris, Balbino was a priest and retired in order to marry Iris and become the greatest step-father four girls could ever ask for. He still wanted to serve the Lord and help people so he went to school and became a nurse for over 30 years. It is his passion being able to help the weak. He has been a faithful husband and a faithful caretaker of the elderly. His wife Iris has had asthma and pulmonary disease for several years. In March she was admitted to the hospital for difficulty breathing. They treated her as if asthma but did a Covid-19 test on her. Before results returned, Iris was put on a ventilator in the middle of the night. Not able to speak with Balbino nor her daughters again. The results later came back positive for Covid-19, and the doctors now knew how to treat her.
After three weeks on the ventilator, under heavy sedation and roller coaster emotions of her health status, the family finally saw light at the end of the tunnel with doctors news. Iris had fought a good fight and was breathing 60% with the ventilator working at 40%. She was taken off sedation and was responding to nurses for two days, nodding yes/no answers to nurses and smiling at photos of her family that her daughters provided on a poster. For sure she was going to come off the ventilator within a few days and doctors update was that she should be healing and going home soon. One evening, the night nurse saw Iris was needing oxygen. Shortly after the lungs were shocked and Iris went into cardiac arrest that night but was resuscitated. The next morning the daughters and Balbino heard the update of the horrific evening their mother had. Their joy and excitement had turned into sorrow and heartache. The rest of the week was filled with many calls to doctors to try to save Iris life. On April 25th, after 38 days of fighting for her life and not being able to see her husband nor daughters again, Iris passed away.
Iris was a wonderful woman that had a heart of gold and full of life. She is survived by her husband Balbino and her 4 daughters of which had just unexpectedly buried their biological father last month on March 17th. Iris was known by all as a great friend and the best cook ever. Growing up, her daughters witnessed their mother and Balbino help the needy by bringing food to them and at times taking them to shop for food. They also helped others by creating small home projects so they can work for money with dignity. The couple always reminded the four girls to have an open heart for the needy as they were Gods children also. Regardless of how little Balbino and Iris had to offer, they still helped. They not only raised the girls going to church but they also showed them how to be the church with action. One of the last conversations Iris had with her daughters was not to waste money on funeral flowers, “flowers are for the living” she said. “Instead, remember to feed the hungry and help the needy”.
Balbino has not only been left with a huge empty hole in his heart but also much debt and funeral expenses. There is a remaining balance for the funeral of approximately $10,000, prior medical bills, mortgage payments and housing expenses. With the great sadness at the age of 85, loneliness and still working as a nurse, his daughters fear for his health. Any donation, big or small, helps. His daughters ask with great humility.
All funds will be given directly to Balbino Torres for funeral costs, credit card debt and living expenses in hopes to fill him with hope and strength to live on during this painful and life altering season.
After three weeks on the ventilator, under heavy sedation and roller coaster emotions of her health status, the family finally saw light at the end of the tunnel with doctors news. Iris had fought a good fight and was breathing 60% with the ventilator working at 40%. She was taken off sedation and was responding to nurses for two days, nodding yes/no answers to nurses and smiling at photos of her family that her daughters provided on a poster. For sure she was going to come off the ventilator within a few days and doctors update was that she should be healing and going home soon. One evening, the night nurse saw Iris was needing oxygen. Shortly after the lungs were shocked and Iris went into cardiac arrest that night but was resuscitated. The next morning the daughters and Balbino heard the update of the horrific evening their mother had. Their joy and excitement had turned into sorrow and heartache. The rest of the week was filled with many calls to doctors to try to save Iris life. On April 25th, after 38 days of fighting for her life and not being able to see her husband nor daughters again, Iris passed away.
Iris was a wonderful woman that had a heart of gold and full of life. She is survived by her husband Balbino and her 4 daughters of which had just unexpectedly buried their biological father last month on March 17th. Iris was known by all as a great friend and the best cook ever. Growing up, her daughters witnessed their mother and Balbino help the needy by bringing food to them and at times taking them to shop for food. They also helped others by creating small home projects so they can work for money with dignity. The couple always reminded the four girls to have an open heart for the needy as they were Gods children also. Regardless of how little Balbino and Iris had to offer, they still helped. They not only raised the girls going to church but they also showed them how to be the church with action. One of the last conversations Iris had with her daughters was not to waste money on funeral flowers, “flowers are for the living” she said. “Instead, remember to feed the hungry and help the needy”.
Balbino has not only been left with a huge empty hole in his heart but also much debt and funeral expenses. There is a remaining balance for the funeral of approximately $10,000, prior medical bills, mortgage payments and housing expenses. With the great sadness at the age of 85, loneliness and still working as a nurse, his daughters fear for his health. Any donation, big or small, helps. His daughters ask with great humility.
All funds will be given directly to Balbino Torres for funeral costs, credit card debt and living expenses in hopes to fill him with hope and strength to live on during this painful and life altering season.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jasmine Velez
Organizer
Wellington, FL
Balbino Torres
Beneficiary